This list was mainly created for medical experts and students who are more familiar with technical terms than with idiomatic English, in order to help them understand what ordinary people are saying and communicate in simpler and less scary-sounding language. It will also be useful for people who know the everyday terms and want to know more technical-sounding expressions for the same things. The first list gives more idiomatic forms of medical terminology. The second list explains what patients mean when they use non-specialist terms in medical situations.
The big list of colloquial expressions for medical terms
This list gives proper medical words and then more everyday terms, divided by a slash (/). To the left of the slash (/), italics means medical words which patients are likely to understand (even though they are actual medical terms). To the right of the slash, italics means particularly idiomatic forms such as slang and rude words that medical staff might hear but will probably want to avoid.
abdomen/ belly or tummy
abdominal muscles/ abs or six pack or stomach muscles
abdominal pain/ stomach cramps
abdominoplasty/ tummy tuck
abrasion/ graze or scratch or scrapes or skinned knees
acne vulgaris/ whitehead
acne/ pimples or spots or teenage spots or zits
ADHD/ hyper or won’t settle down
adverse effect/ side effect
alopecia/ going bald or going thin on top or hair loss
amnesia/ blackout or memory loss
amniotic fluid/ waters
amphetamines/ speed
anaemia/ iron deficiency
anal sphincter/ arse ring or sphincter
analgesic/ painkiller
ankle sprain/ twisted ankle
anorexia/ loss of appetite
appendectomy/ have your appendix out
arthritis/ stiff joints
asphyxiation/ suffocation
avian influenza/ bird flu
axilla/ armpit
become infected/ catch something
bladder/ waterworks
bowel movement/ crap or number two or poo or poop or shit or turd
breast augmentation/ boob job
breast mass/ lump in your breast
breasts/ boobs or bosoms or chest
bruxism/ grinding your teeth
bulla/ blister
candida albicans/ thrush
carbohydrates/ carbs
caries/ rotten tooth
chemotherapy/ chemo
chronic pain/ persistent pain
cicatrix/ scar
clitoris/ clit
closed comedo/ whitehead
common cold/ sniffle
complex carbohydrates/ carbs
conception/ getting knocked up
condom/ Durex or rubber or (rubber) johnny or French letter
conjunctivitis/ pink eye
contusion/ bruise
cosmetic surgery/ plastic surgery
deciduous teeth/ baby teeth or milk teeth
defecate/ crap or have a dump or have a number two or have a poo or shit
delirium tremens/ the shakes
delirium/ feverishness
dementia/ confusion
dental caries/ rotten tooth
dental pain/ toothache
dental plaque/ plaque
dental restoration/ filling
dental scaling/ tooth scraping
dependant/ hooked (on something)
depressed/ feeling down or feeling blue
dermis/ skin
DES/ dry eyes
desquamation/ peeling skin
diarrhoea/ dodgy tummy or the runs or the shits or the trots
doctor/ doc or quack
dry vomiting/ dry heaving
dysmenorrhoea/ period pains
dyspepsia/ indigestion
dysphagia/ difficulty swallowing
dyspnoea/ breathlessness, difficulty breathing or out of breath/ dyspnoea
dysuria/ burning sensation when peeing or difficulty peeing or having to squeeze it out or pain when peeing
EBC pill/ morning after pill
embryo/ baby in your tummy
emergency birth control pill/ morning after pill
emesis/ barfing or can't keep food down or chucking up or hurling or puking or puking up or spewing or throwing up
epidermis/ skin
epistaxis/ nose bleed
erectile dysfunction/ can't get it up
erection/ boner or hard on or getting it up
eructation/ belch or burp
erythrocyte/ red blood cells
evacuate/ crap or have a number two or have a poo or shit
excise something/ have something out
excoriation/ scrape or scratch
facialplasty/ face lift
faeces/ crap or number two or poo or shit
febrile/ burning up or feverish
fecal incontinence/ doing a boo boo or having an accident or pooing your pants or shitting yourself or soiling yourself
flatulence/ blow(ing) off or fart(ing) or (passing) gas or (breaking or passing) wind
furuncle/ boil
gastroenteritis/ tummy bug
genital herpes/ herpes
genitals/ down there or privates or private parts
genitalia/ down there or privates or private parts
gingival atrophy/ receding gums
gingival recession/ receding gums
gingivitis/ gum disease
globus hystericus/ feel like you have a lump in your throat
globus pharyngeus/ feels like something is stuck in my throat
globus sensation/ feels like something is stuck in my throat
grand mal/ attack or episode or fit
haemoptysis/ coughing up blood or spitting up blood
haemorrhage/ heavy bleeding or gushing
haemorrhoids/ piles
halitosis/ bad breath
hallucinating/ seeing things
hand tremors/ shaking hands
HDL/ good cholesterol
head lice/ nits
heart/ ticker
heat stroke/ sunstroke
hematemesis/ vomiting up blood
herniated disk/ slipped disk
herpes simplex/ herpes
herpes zoster/ chickenpox
high-density lipoprotein/ good cholesterol
hirsutism/ hairiness
hyperpyrexia/ heat stroke
hypertension/ high blood pressure
hypotension/ low blood pressure
immunisation/ jabs
in vitro fertilisation/ test tube baby
indication/ side effect
infected/ catch something
infectious/ catching
influenza/ flu
inhaler/ puffer
injection/ jab
inoculations/ jabs
intestine/ guts
intoxicated/ drunk or high or tipsy or wasted
intrauterine (contraceptive) device/ coil
intravenous drip/ drip
IUCD or IUD/ coil
IV drip/ drip
IVF/ test tube baby
juvenile/ for kids
KCS/ dry eyes
keratoconjunctivitis sicca/ dry eyes
kyphosis/ hunchback or humpback or hump
larynx/ voice box
laxative/ something to loosen me up
LDL/ bad cholesterol
learning difficulties or learning disabilities/ not all there or simple or special
lethargy/ tiredness
leukocyte/ white blood cells
libido/ sex drive
limb length discrepancy or limb length inequality/ one leg longer than the other
liposuction/ lipo
lose consciousness/ faint or pass out or swoon
low-density lipoprotein/ bad cholesterol
lumbago/ lower back pain
magnesium hydroxide/ milk of magnesia
male infertility/ shooting blanks
malocclusion/ crooked teeth
mandible/ lower jaw
melanoma/ skin cancer
menstruation/ time of the month
menstrual cramps/ period pains
mental health issues/.crazy or nuts
mentally disabled/ not all there or simple or special
migraine/ throbbing head
miliaria/ heat rash or prickly heat
molar teeth/ back teeth
mouth to mouth resuscitation/ mouth to mouth
movement/ crap or number two or poo or shit
multiple personality disorder/ schizo
myalgia/ muscle pain
myopic/ short sighted
naris/ nostril
nasal congestion/ blocked up nose or bunged up nose or stuffed up nose
nasal haemorrhage/ nose bleed
nasal mucus/ snot
nausea/ feeling sick
nausea gravidarum/ morning sickness
navel/ belly button
neonatal/ new-born
nerve entrapment syndrome/ pinched nerve or trapped nerve
nitrous oxide/ laughing gas
non-prescription medicine/ over-the-counter drug or over-the-counter remedy
obese/ carrying extra weight or chubby or fat or overweight or podgy
obesity/ chubbiness or excess weight or fatness or podginess
oedema/ swelling
oesophageal obstruction/ something stuck in your throat
onychocryptosis/ ingrown toenail
open comedo/ blackhead
oral contraceptive/ the pill
oral herpes/ cold sore
OTC/ over-the-counter drug or over-the-counter remedy
ovum/ egg
palate/ top of the mouth
patella/ kneecap
pectoral muscles/ pecs
pellets/ rabbit poo
pelvic pain/ pain down there
pelvic region/ down there or lady parts or private parts or privates or unmentionables
penis/ cock or dick or John Thomas
periodontis/ gum disease
persistent vegetative state/ human vegetable or vegetable
perspiration/ sweat
petit mal/ (a bit of an) attack or episode or fit
pharmacist/ chemist
pharyngitis/ sore throat
pharynx/ (back of the) throat
photopsia/ seeing stars
physician/ doc or quack
pregnant/ bun in the oven or eating for two or expecting or in the family way or knocked up or up the duff
pressure ulcers/ bedsores
pruritus/ itchy
psychiatrist or psychologist/ head doctor or shrink
pubic hair/ pubes
pubic lice/ crabs
pyretic/ burning up or feverish
rabbit stool/ rabbit poo
radiotherapy/ zap something
RBC/ red blood cells
recover/ get better or get over something
reduced mobility/ stiff joints
regurgitation/ barfing or can't keep food down or chucking up or hurling or puking or puking up or spewing or throwing up
reproductive organs/ bits
respiration/ breathing
restless sleep/ tossing and turning
rheum/ sleep in your eyes
rheumatism/ stiff joints
rhinoplasty/ nose job
rhinorrhoea/ runny nose
rigidity/ stiffness
rubella/ German measles
rupture of membranes/ waters breaking
saliva/ gob or spit
sanitary pad/ panty liner
scapula/ shoulder blade
schizoid/ schizo
schizophrenic/ schizo
sclera/ whites of your eyes
scoliosis/ twisted spine
scrotum/ ball bag or ball sack or sack
seborrheic dermatitis/ dandruff
see a psychiatrist or psychologist/ have your head examined
semen/ come
senile lentigo/ liver spots
sexually transmitted disease/ catch something
SIDS/ cot death or crib death
solar lentigo/ freckles (from the sun)
somnambulism/ sleep walking
somniloquy/ talking in your sleep
spinal curvature/ curved spine
sporadic/ one-off
sternum/ breastbone
STI/ catch something
stool/ crap or number two or poo or shit
strain/ pulled muscle or torn muscle
sudden infant death syndrome/ cot death or crib death
suffering from hearing loss/ hard of hearing
suppository/ up the arse or up the rear end or up there
suppurate/ ooze
surgery/ have something done or have an operation
sutures/ stitches
tachycardia/ racing heart beat
tampon/ Tampax
testicles/ balls or bollocks or family jewels or gonads or nuts
thoracic back pain/ upper back pain
thoracic cage/ rib cage
thrombosis/ blood clot
tibia/ shin (bone)
tinea pedis/ athlete’s foot
tonsillectomy/ have your tonsils out
trachea/ windpipe
tussis/ cough or coughing
tympanic membrane/ eardrum
tympanum/ eardrum
ultrasonography/ ultrasound
umbilicus/ belly button
unguis incarnates/ ingrown toenail
unsteadiness/ unsteady on your feet
urinal/ the bottle
urinary incontinence/ having an accident or having a little accident or leaking or peeing yourself or pissing yourself
urinate/ have a leak or have a pee or have a piss or relieve yourself or spend a penny or wee
urine/ number one or pee or piss or wee
uterus/ womb
vaccinations/ jabs
vaginal thrush/ thrush
Valium/ mother’s little helper
varicella (zoster)/ chickenpox
varicosities/ varicose veins
vasectomy/ the snip
ventilator/ puffer
verruca/ wart
vertigo/ dizziness or feel like my head is turning around
vesicle/ blister
virus/ bug
volvulus/ twisted bowel
xeroderma/ dry skin
xerophthalmia/ dry eyes
The big list of everyday medical expressions with proper medical terms
This list gives colloquial terms and then more technical medical words, divided by a slash (/). Words to the left of the slash which are in italics are very informal and/ or rude words which medical staff might want to avoid repeating. Words on the right written in italics are medical terms which would probably be understood by patients. Please note that words which almost always take “the…” such as “the pill” are only listed in the T section.
abortion/ termination
abs/ abdominal muscles
anorexia/ anorexia nervosa
armpit/ axilla
arse ring/ anal sphincter
athlete’s foot/ tinea pedis
attack/ grand mal or petit mal
baby in your tummy/ embryo
baby teeth/ deciduous teeth
back of the throat/ pharynx
back teeth/ molar teeth
bad breath/ halitosis
bad cholesterol/ LDL or low-density lipoprotein
ball bag/ scrotum
ball sack/ scrotum
balls/ testicles
barfing/ emesis or regurgitation
bedsores/ pressure ulcers
belch/ eructation
belly button/ navel or umbilicus
belly/ abdomen
bird flu/ avian influenza
bits/ reproductive organs
blackhead/ open comedo
blackout/ amnesia
blister/ vesicle or bulla
blocked up nose/ nasal congestion
blood clot/ thrombosis
blow off/ flatulence
blue/ depressed
boil/ furuncle
bollocks/ testicles
boner/ erection
boobs/ breasts
boob job/ breast augmentation
breaking wind/ flatulence
breastbone/ sternum
breathing/ respiration
breathlessness, difficulty breathing or out of breath/ dyspnoea
bruise/ contusion
bug/ virus
bun in the oven/ pregnant
bunged up nose/ nasal congestion
burning sensation when peeing/ dysuria
burning up/ febrile or pyretic
burp/ eructation
can't get it up/ erectile dysfunction
can't keep food down/ emesis or regurgitation
carbs/ (complex) carbohydrates
catch something/ STI or sexually transmitted disease
catch something/ become infected
catching/ infectious
chemist/ pharmacist
chemo/ chemotherapy
chest/ breasts
chickenpox/ herpes zoster or varicella or varicella zoster
chubby/ obese
chucking up/ emesis or regurgitation
clit/ clitoris
cock/ penis
coil/ IUD or IUCD or intrauterine (contraceptive) device
cold sore/ oral herpes
come/ semen
confusion/ dementia
cot death/ sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS
cough/ tussis
coughing up blood/ haemoptysis
crabs/ pubic lice
crap/ bowel movement or faeces or movement or stool
crap/ defecate or evacuate
crazy/ suffering from mental health issues
crib death/ sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS
crooked teeth/ malocclusion
curved spine/ spinal curvature
dandruff/ seborrheic dermatitis
dick/ penis
difficulty breathing/ dyspnoea
difficulty peeing/ dysuria
difficulty swallowing/ dysphagia
dizziness/ vertigo
doc/ doctor or physician
dodgy tummy/ diarrhoea
doing a boo boo/ fecal incontinence
down/ depressed
down there/ pelvic region
drip/ IV drip or intravenous drip
drunk/ intoxicated
dry eyes/ DES or KCS or keratoconjunctivitis sicca or xerophthalmia
dry heaving/ dry vomiting
dry skin/ xeroderma
Durex/ condom
eardrum/ tympanic membrane or tympanum
eating for two/ pregnant
egg/ ovum
episode/ grand mal or petit mal
expecting/ pregnant
face lift/ facialplasty
faint/ lose consciousness
family jewels/ testicles
fart/ flatulence
fat/ obese
feel like my head is turning around/ vertigo
feel like you have a lump in your throat/ globus hystericus
feeling blue/ depressed
feeling down/ depressed
feeling sick/ nausea
feels like something is stuck in my throat/ globus pharyngeus or globus sensation
feverish/ febrile or pyretic
feverishness/ delirium
filling/ dental restoration
fit/ grand mal or petit mal
flu/ influenza
for kids/ juvenile
freckles (from the sun)/ solar lentigo
French letter/ condom
gas/ flatulence
German measles/ rubella
get better/ recover
get over something/ recover
getting it up/ erection
getting knocked up/ conception
gob/ saliva
going bald/ alopecia
going thin on top/ alopecia
gonads/ testicles
good cholesterol/ HDL or high-density lipoprotein
graze/ abrasion
grinding your teeth/ bruxism
gum disease/ gingivitis or periodontis
guts/ intestine
haemorrhage/ heavy bleeding or gushing
hair loss/ alopecia
hairiness/ hirsutism
hard of hearing/ suffering from hearing loss
hard on/ erection
have a dump/ defecate
have a number two/ defecate or evacuate
have a pee/ urinate
have a poo/ defecate or evacuate
have a wee/ urinate
have an accident or have a little accident/ (fecal or urinary) incontinence
have something done/ have an operation or have surgery
have something out/ excise something
have your appendix out/ appendectomy
have your head examined/ see a psychologist or psychiatrist
have your tonsils out/ tonsillectomy
having to squeeze it out/ dysuria
head doctor/ psychiatrist or psychologist
heart rate monitor/ electrocardiograph
heat rash/ miliaria
heat stroke/ hyperpyrexia
heavy bleeding/ haemorrhage
herpes/ genital herpes or herpes simplex
high blood pressure/ hypertension
high/ intoxicated
hooked on/ dependant
human vegetable/ persistent vegetative state
hunchback/ kyphosis
hurling/ emesis or regurgitation
hyper/ ADHD
in the family way/ pregnant
indigestion/ dyspepsia
ingrown toenail/ onychocryptosis or unguis incarnates
iron deficiency/ anaemia
itchy/ pruritus
jab/ injection
jabs/ inoculations or vaccinations or immunisation
John Thomas/ penis
johnny/ condom
kneecap/ patella
knocked up/ pregnant
kyphosis/ hunchback or humpback or hump
lady parts/ pelvic region
laughing gas/ nitrous oxide
lipo/ liposuction
liver spots/ senile lentigo
loss of appetite/ anorexia
low blood pressure/ hypotension
lower back pain/ lumbago
lower jaw/ mandible
lump in your breast/ breast mass
memory loss/ amnesia
milk of magnesia/ magnesium hydroxide
milk teeth/ deciduous teeth
morning after pill/ emergency birth control pill or EBC pill
morning sickness/ nausea gravidarum
mother’s little helper/ Valium
mouth to mouth/ mouth to mouth resuscitation
muscle pain/ myalgia
new-born/ neonatal
nits/ head lice
nose bleed/ epistaxis or nasal haemorrhage
nose job/ rhinoplasty
nostril/ naris
not all there/ mentally disabled or with learning difficulties or with learning disabilities
number one/ urine
number two/ bowel movement or faeces or movement or stool
nuts/ suffering from mental health issues
nuts/ testicles
obese/ carrying extra weight or chubby or fat or overweight or podgy
obesity/ chubbiness or excess weight or fatness or podginess
one leg longer than the other/ limb length inequality or limb length discrepancy
one-off/ sporadic
ooze/ suppurate
out of breath/ dyspnoea
over-the-counter drug or over-the-counter remedy/ non-prescription medicine or OTC
overweight/ obese
pain down there/ pelvic pain
pain when peeing/ dysuria
painkiller/ analgesic
panty liner/ sanitary pad
pass out/ lose consciousness
passing gas/ flatulence
passing wind/ flatulence
pecs/ pectoral muscles
pee/ urine
peeing yourself/ urinary incontinence
peeling skin/ desquamation
period pains/ dysmenorrhoea or menstrual cramps
persistent pain/ chronic pain
piles/ haemorrhoids
pimples/ acne
pinched nerve/ nerve entrapment syndrome
pink eye/ conjunctivitis
piss/ urine
plaque/ dental plaque
plastic surgery/ cosmetic surgery
podgy/ obese
poo/ bowel movement or faeces or movement or stool
pooing your pants/ fecal incontinence
poop/ bowel movement
prickly heat/ miliaria
private parts/ genitals or genitalia
privates/ genitals or genitalia
pubes/ pubic hair
puffer/ inhaler or ventilator
puking (up)/ emesis or regurgitation
pulled muscle or torn muscle/ strain
quack/ doctor or physician
rabbit poo/ rabbit stool or pellets
racing heart beat/ tachycardia
receding gums/ gingival recession or gingival atrophy
red blood cells/ RBC or erythrocyte
relieve yourself/ urinate
rib cage/ thoracic cage
rotten tooth/ caries or dental caries
rubber (johnny)/ condom
runny nose/ rhinorrhoea
sack/ scrotum
scar/ cicatrix
schizo/ schizoid, schizophrenic or suffering from multiple personality disorder
scrape or scratch/ abrasion or excoriation
seeing stars/ photopsia
seeing things/ hallucinating
sex drive/ libido
shaking hands/ hand tremors
shin (bone)/ tibia
shit/ bowel movement or faeces or movement or stool
shit/ defecate or evacuate
shitting yourself/ fecal incontinence
shooting blanks/ male infertility
short sighted/ myopic
shoulder blade/ scapula
shrink/ psychiatrist
side effect/ adverse effect or indication
simple/ mentally disabled or with learning difficulties or with learning disabilities
six pack/ abdominal muscles
skin/ dermis or epidermis
skin cancer/ melanoma
skinned knees/ abrasion
sleep in your eyes/ rheum
sleep walking/ somnambulism
slipped disk/ herniated disk
sniffle/ (minor) common cold
snot/ nasal mucus
soiling yourself/ fecal incontinence
something stuck in your throat/ oesophageal obstruction
something to loosen me up/ laxative
sore throat/ pharyngitis
special/ mentally disabled or with learning difficulties or with learning disabilities
speed/ amphetamines
spewing/ emesis or regurgitation
sphincter/ anal sphincter
spit/ saliva
spitting up blood/ haemoptysis
stiff joints/ joint with reduced mobility or arthritis or rheumatism
stiffness/ rigidity
stitches/ sutures
stomach cramps/ abdominal pain
stomach muscles/ abdominal muscles
stuffed up nose/ nasal congestion
suffocation/ asphyxiation
sunstroke/ heat stroke
sweat/ perspiration
swelling/ oedema
swoon/ lose consciousness
talking in your sleep/ somniloquy
Tampax/ tampon
teenage spots/ acne
test tube baby/ IVF or in vitro fertilisation
the bottle/ urinal
the pill/ oral contraceptive
the runs/ diarrhoea
the shakes/ delirium tremens
the shits/ diarrhoea
the snip/ vasectomy
the trots/ diarrhoea
throat/ pharynx
throbbing head/ migraine
throwing up/ emesis or regurgitation
thrush/ candida albicans or vaginal thrush
ticker/ heart
time of the month/ menstruation
tipsy/ intoxicated
tiredness/ lethargy
tooth scraping/ dental scaling
toothache/ dental pain
top of the mouth/ palate
tossing and turning/ restless sleep
trapped nerve/ nerve entrapment syndrome
tummy/ abdomen
tummy bug/ gastroenteritis
tummy tuck/ abdominoplasty
turd/ bowel movement
tussis/ cough or coughing
twisted ankle/ ankle sprain
twisted bowel/ volvulus
twisted spine/ scoliosis
ultrasound/ ultrasonography
unmentionables/ pelvic region
unsteady on your feet/ unsteadiness
up the arse/ suppository
up the duff/ pregnant
up the rear end/ suppository
up there/ suppository
upper back pain/ thoracic back pain
urinary incontinence/ having an accident or having a little accident or leaking or peeing yourself or pissing yourself
varicose veins/ varicosities
voice box/ larynx
vomiting up blood/ hematemesis
wart/ verruca
wasted/ intoxicated
waters/ amniotic fluid
waters breaking/ rupture of membranes
waterworks/ bladder
wee/ urinate
wee/ urine
white blood cells/ leukocyte
whitehead/ acne vulgaris or closed comedo
whites of your eyes/ sclera
wind/ flatulence
windpipe/ trachea
womb/ uterus
won’t settle down/ ADHD
zap something/ radiotherapy
zits/ acne